The 9th edition of Gallery Weekend Beijing (GWBJ) will take place from May 23 to June 1, 2025. VIP Days will run from May 23 to 25, followed by Public Days from May 27 to June 1. Since its founding in 2017, GWBJ has consistently promoted dialogue between the art world and public culture, rooted in the local context yet driven by a global vision and international standards. Over the past eight years, GWBJ has grown into one of China’s most influential platforms for contemporary art.

Earlier this year, GWBJ announced a significant structural shift in its exhibitor selecting process: transitioning from an application-based process to an invitation-only system. The Selection Committee, comprising of five members, was elected by the 21 galleries that participated in last year’s Main Sector. The selected committee members are: Leng Lin (Founder, Beijing Commune), Luna Peng (Director, Galleria Continua Beijing), Qu Kejie (Founder, Magician Space), Tian Yuan (Founder, White Space Beijing) and Xi Tao (Founder, A26 Space) – listed alphabetically by surname. The committee reviewed all galleries that had previously participated in GWBJ and voted on this year’s invitation list. Additionally, each committee member was also granted one nomination for one newly established Beijing-based gallery (operating over a year) that had not yet participated in GWBJ.

Through this careful reviewing and voting process, this year’s GWBJ will feature 30 Beijing-based galleries and 11 non-profit institutions. The Main Sector lineup includes established galleries such as Beijing Commune, Galleria Continua, Platform China, SPURS Gallery and Star Gallery – all located in the 798·751 Art District and celebrating their 20th anniversaries this year. It also welcomes first-time participants such as MG Space, MOU MOU, REFLEXION, SENSE GALLERY and Tong Gallery+Projects. Antenna Space will also make its debut at GWBJ with a specially-curated exhibition project. This edition of GWBJ marks the highest-ever participation from non-profit institutions, with 798CUBE, Beijing Inside-Out Art Museum,Espace Louis Vuitton Beijing, Hyundai Motorstudio Beijing, MACA Art Center, UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Song Art Museum and Wind H Art Center returning and Red Brick Art Museum, Taikang Art Museum and X Museum participating for the first time. The varied curated projects and exhibitions they present will deeply enrich the overall narrative of GWBJ. With broader collaborations, richer content and a more open value system, the newly upgraded GWBJ aims to establish a broader “Beijing Art Season”, further expanding its scale and impact while enhancing the cultural dynamics and synergy of the capital city.

Centered in the 798·751 Art District and expanding into other key cultural and art hubs such as the CBD Art Zone, Caochangdi Art District and Beijing Art Bonded Zone, this year’s GWBJ actively energizes the city’s art scene and reinforcing Beijing’s position as a vital nexus on the global art landscape through over 50 exhibitions, 20 networking events and 20 professional forums.

Among the over 50 exhibitions to be presented during the 9th GWBJ, highlights include: a comprehensive look at female creativity across generations in response to the global focus on women in art; a probe into the symbiotic relationship and future interplay between contemporary art and technology, life and nature in the age that AI and biotechnologies are reshaping our mind; an insight into the creativity and expressions of the younger generation tackling issues like identity and globalization through multimedia approaches like video, installation and performance; a survey into the evolution of painting as a medium. Through all these various themed presentations, GWBJ intends to foster conversations among curators, audiences and artworks to explore ecological resonance through diverse narratives. Together, these projects reflect the cutting-edge trends in the global art world and underscore how diverse perspectives are reshaping a new ecology of art.

Contemporary art thrives not only on exhibition making but also on a vibrant and sustained network of interaction and collecting. This year, GWBJ will host over 20 high-end networking events, including dinners, parties and private salons, creating opportunities for in-depth engagement among collectors, curators, artists and industry professionals. In the meantime, as a key generator of intellectual discourse, the 9th edition of GWBJ will also join forces with ART021 BEIJING, Beijing Dangdai Art Fair – both with rooted in the capital city – to organize over 20 professional forums during GWBJ. These sessions will explore topics such as market dynamics and public art practices, offering visionary insights into the industry.

In response to the expanded programming and growing richness of the contents, the 9th GWBJ will revise the selection mechanism of its two major awards: the Best Exhibition Award and the Infinity Award. Launched in 2018, the Best Exhibition Award has always been a highlight of GWBJ. This year the award will be selected collectively by young curators and senior directors of non-profit institutions. GWBJ will invite 5 curators, born in the 1980s and 1990s and with deep knowledge of the Beijing art ecosystem, to form a nomination committee. The committee will propose 8 to 10 shortlisted exhibitions for the award. A jury comprising of 3 to 5 directors of non-profit institutions will then vote on the final winner. The Infinity Award, which was introduced last year, aims to encourage artists to experiment with new art forms, media and means of expression so as to challenge the boundaries of exhibition making. The award will be selected independently by the same 5 curators of the nomination committee of the Best Exhibition Award. The upgrades are designed to foster a more open and forward-thinking selection system through intergenerational curatorial collaborations, promoting greater diversity and critical reflection in artistic practices. They also demonstrate GWBJ’s commitment to a sustainable art ecosystem – one that breaks down generational barriers and empower diverse voices to shape the standards of evaluation.

“As a pioneer to introduce the Gallery Weekend model to China, Gallery Weekend Beijing is about to celebrate a milestone 9th edition. Over the past eight years, we have worked diligently to cultivate the art ecosystem with professionalism and vision. Rooted in Beijing, a vital cultural nexus throughout the history of China, we remain committed to building a bridge between local and global art scenes. In 2025, GWBJ will further strengthen its platform, providing improved opportunities for participating galleries, non-profit institutions and artists to showcase their work, fostering diverse dialogue and encouraging innovative practices. In the upcoming art gala, participating institutions will come together on an unprecedented scale to present an exceptional array of exhibitions. We sincerely look forward to our peers from around the globe to gather in Beijing this May and celebrate this grand artistic feast, as we jointly contribute to the flourishing of the ‘Beijing Art Season’.”

 – GWBJ Team